Public commenters press board on DEI and library content; parent urges district funding to expand orchestra programs

Two members of the public addressed the Forsyth County Board of Education during the Jan. 21 public participation portion of the meeting.

Jerry Kushel, identified in the record as a public commenter, urged the board to remove references to diversity, equity and inclusion from district practice and policy and to adopt measures he described as returning to earlier social norms. In his remarks Kushel said, “there are only 2 genders. Gender dysphoria is a disease and any child in our schools affected by this disease needs mental health treatment, not blind affirmation,” and urged district staff not to affirm students’ gender identities. He also criticized library materials he described as "age inappropriate" and urged the board to remove materials he characterized as promoting critical race theory or DEI principles. Those remarks were delivered as personal public comment; the transcript records no immediate board action or response.

Later in the public comment period Janelle Mortensen spoke to ask the board to set aside funds to start orchestra programs across the district. Mortensen said she has advocated for orchestra for several years and cited the Forsyth County strategic arts plan (written for 2020–2025 and presented to the board on Jan. 14, 2020) which sets milestones for itinerant teachers, middle school starter programs and transitioning itinerant teachers to full time as programs grow. Mortensen said that in 2025 the district has only one high school and one middle school with full-time orchestra teachers, that she is not aware of any itinerant teachers currently, and that the current approach of leaving program starts to individual principals makes establishing and growing orchestra programs difficult. She asked the board to set aside funds and to consult parents and community members who have started successful school classes or community orchestras on best practices for growing programs.

Neither public comment item resulted in recorded board action at the meeting; Mortensen requested a board response and left her contact availability on the record.